Articles Tagged: Cedar Rapids Community School District

Also in this week’s Government Notes, Cedar Rapids is supporting a new initiative to address homelessness.

Executive leadership staff span a 6 to 22 percent increase in proposed salaries as they take on new and expanded roles

There were more than 300 physical restraints of students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District during the 2024-25 school year — an increase from around 200 the year prior. But the U.S. Department of Justice reports there’s been a “noticeable improvement“ in employees’ understanding of problem solving and de-escalation.

Several executive leadership positions were removed from a revised personnel report approved by the Cedar Rapids school board Monday. It was the second time in a week the board has considered approval of a personnel report after last week’s vote failed.

Former Cedar Rapids schools superintendent Lew Finch, who served from 1994 to 2004, oversaw the last bond referendum to be approved by voters in the district.

Also in this week’s Government Notes, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is seeking “community champions” to connect with potential residents as part of its Collaborative Growth Initiative.

Arts programs in the Cedar Rapids Community School District are on “life support” after years of under funding, Carl Rowles, Jefferson High School band director, told the Cedar Rapids school board Monday. Rowles was one of dozens of people turned up at the meeting wearing school attire and advocating for the arts.

Iowa students will be more engaged in their learning and with their peers as they head back to school this fall under new policies restricting the use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, educators say.

A letter of intent has been signed for the Cedar Rapids school district to purchase a property adjacent to Van Buren Elementary School, allowing the district to relocate an access road that will be built to service the new school building planned for the site.

The Cedar Rapids school board did not approve a personnel report in a 4-3 vote Monday, so that it can further consider proposed changes in central office staff “responsibilities and pay.”

The Cedar Rapids school board unanimously approved the new contract with Superintendent Tawana Grover effective July 1, and ending June 30, 2028. Grover requested no salary increase as part of the extension.

Here’s how Cedar Rapids’ West Willow Elementary School teacher Sara Yedlik, chosen for a highly competitive national program for teachers, will bring back to her classroom what she learned.

This voter guide includes information about who is running for re-election to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City school boards. The Gazette will be speaking with candidates about their campaigns and priorities in future stories.

Alsoin this week’s Government Notes, an Interstate 380 off-ramp at North Liberty will close this week.

Healthy Kids Iowa, announced by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May, uses federal funding to expand the summer meal sites program that the state ran last year. Instead of one box for the whole summer, qualifying families are being given one box per child, per month in June, July and August.